RANGE REVIEW: PEST CONTROL CELEBRATE
BY WELCOMING THESE WINGED WONDERS TO YOUR GARDEN
T
he night has been arranged by the Bat Conservation Trust and is designed to raise awareness of this special animal,
which pollinates over 500 plant species, including some mangoes, guava, banana and agave, which is used to make tequila. Over 70 per cent of bats – and 100 per cent in the UK – also feed on insects, and as such play an important part in controlling the numbers of pests. They have massive appetites, and a tiny Pipistrelle bat alone can eat over 3000 mosquitoes in one night! Bats’ excrement is also a fantastic fertiliser, known as guano. Bat guano comprises of roughly ten per cent nitrogen, three per cent phosphorus and one per cent potassium – a mixture which helps plants thrive
and encourages their bright green colouring, boosts root growth and promotes strong, healthy stems. So, bats in a garden is a great sign that your plants will be benefitting from this brilliant natural fertiliser, helping your flowers bloom stronger, for longer.
Unfortunately, increased use of pesticides means that many British bat species are in decline, as they go hungry from lack of insect prey. Many are also faced with fewer roosting places due to a decline of natural habitats, meaning they struggle to get that all-important slumber during the day. In fact, one third of Britain’s most highly threatened mammal species are bats.
Much-misunderstood creature At Seedball, founders Drs Emily and Ana Attlee are encouraging
PEST CONTROL COMPANY RELEASES NEW DIGITAL CATALOGUE
STV’s new 2023 spring summer catalogue showcases loads of seasonal opportunities for the warmer months ahead. Featuring a comprehensive collection of new poison-free pest control solutions, new sustainable products and packaging, high impact in-store merchandising, new ‘All-In- One’ kits with money-off savings and new ‘Problem Solved’ videos demonstrating how to set up and use products. To view STV’s fully interactive digital catalogue visit
www.stvuk.com/catalogue STV are encouraging all potential retail
18 DIY WEEK JULY 2023
customers to take full advantage of the products and prices that are on offer. And they will be happy to arrange for either their mobile showroom to visit you, or for you to visit them at STV. To book an appointment to visit either of their showrooms visit
www.stvuk.com/ showrooms
If you need any more information, or have any queries about STV’s new Spring Summer catalogue get in touch by email:
sales@stvuk.com or call 01953 881580.
INTERNATIONAL BAT NIGHT
Think of pollinators and bumblebees, butterflies and beetles may come to mind – but the humble bat also plays a huge role in this vital work. Disruptive wildflower company Seedball is encouraging people to celebrate the importance of this mammal for International Bat Night, held this year on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27
“Bats are a much- misunderstood creature, but here at Seedball we love them!”
people to plant wildflowers which will entice bats – whether that’s in a garden, balcony or even pots on a windowsill. The Bat Mix tin contains wildflower seedballs specially selected to attract a wide range of insects that bats feed on, including flowers that release their fragrance at night when bats are most active. The mix contains plant seeds with a combination of long and short pollen tubes, and a variety of colours and shapes of flowers to maximise the number of insects they attract – creating
a delicious and well-rounded diet for bats! The seedballs contain borage, cornflower, corn marigolds, evening primrose, wallflowers and night-scented stock – which will not only encourage bats to visit but will also look beautiful too. Dr Ana Attlee says: “Bats are a much-misunderstood creature, but here at Seedball we love them! They play such an important part in pollinating plants, getting rid of pests and keeping our soil healthy, and we encourage people to enjoy these furry visitors – as they are a sign of a happy, healthy garden. Our Bat Mix can be sown between August and October, so we’ll be celebrating International Bat Night on Saturday 26 August by scattering some seedballs and welcoming more bats over the coming months.”
For more information, visit
https://seedball.co.uk/product/ bat-mix
About Seedball
Seedball was founded by two conservation scientists wanting to boost biodiversity and help wildlife. The products Seedball produces
are balls made of clay and peat-free compost containing 30 – 100 seeds per ball, and a touch of chilli powder to deter slugs and snails. The company creates wildflower seedballs in mixed or single variety packages that are developed to help reverse the decline in pollinators and garden wildlife. Seedball is on a mission to help
increase the abundance of British wildflowers and the wildlife that depends upon them. Owned by Project Maya – a non-
profit enterprise - Seedball products are sold in over 500 stores in the UK, including Kew Gardens, The Woodland Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, as well as online retailers such as Crocus and Marie Curie. Each year, Seedball also donates products to hundreds of schools and community groups to help support their nature projects.
www.diyweek.net
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